I grew up in the church. More than that, I’m a pastor’s kid—and I’ve served on church staff.

My daddy loved people. He was a fine preacher, but he was an amazing pastor caring for the congregation. It wasn’t unusual for him to make as many as 50 visits to homes each week. That’s when pastors did that kind of thing.

W.A. Amerson was well known in the halls of the local hospitals as he visited patients. Dad would often be seen with his arm around someone’s neck showing love and telling them about Jesus.

And yet, some church folks could always find a way to be critical. Anyone who has served on a church staff knows that some of the most critical people attend church.

I know firsthand the sting of criticism from within the pews. I’ve had people leave the music program because their feelings were hurt. I’ve had my motives questioned and my words misinterpreted. And I’ll be the first to admit—I haven’t always gotten it right. But sometimes, it feels like people are just waiting for a reason to be offended.

Not long ago, I listened to an interview with a man who had been falsely accused and imprisoned. The charges weren’t just unfounded—they were malicious. The fallout destroyed his career, strained his family, and upended his life. By every measure, he had the right to be bitter.

But he wasn’t.

Instead of clinging to anger, he chose forgiveness. Not because he had forgotten the pain or dismissed the injustice, but because he refused to let resentment define him. Forgiveness, for him, wasn’t weakness—it was freedom. In letting go of the bitterness, he stepped out of one prison and refused to enter another.

That story challenged me. It made me examine the places in my own life where I’ve held on to hurt too long. Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” That’s not just a line in a prayer—it’s a call to live differently.

In a world that seems to thrive on outrage and division, may we be people marked by grace. Don’t let bitterness take root. Don’t carry the weight of unforgiveness one more day.

Grace and Peace,

Steve